Bob Vila Radio: Window Treatments

With so many choices in window treatments, ask yourself a few questions before narrowing down your options and making a final decision.

Choosing window treatments can be one of the most difficult design decisions you’ll have to make. There are so many options, and so many choices are simply a matter of personal style, that it’s hard to know where to begin.

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Listen to BOB VILA ON WINOW TREATMENTS or read the text below:

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The two questions that will help you get started are whether the window treatments need to provide privacy or not, and whether your goal is to admit light or block it. Some rooms need lots of privacy—bathrooms, for example, or ground-floor rooms near busy streets or sidewalks. In those rooms, you’ll probably want to start with blinds or shades that completely block the interior from view. Other rooms, such as living spaces facing your own yard, may not need complete privacy.

Your choice will be affected by the amount of light you need or want in a room. A south- or east-facing bedroom may need light-blocking window coverings so the sun doesn’t wake you up with the roosters. A porch or playroom may require only sheer decorative coverings, if any, to fill the room with light.

The rest is largely a matter of style and layering—you may still feel overwhelmed with choices, but once you answer those two basic questions, you’re well on your way to decorating your windows.

Bob Vila Radio is a newly launched daily radio spot carried on more than 75 stations around the country (and growing). You can get your daily dose here, by listening to—or reading—Bob’s 60-second home improvement radio tip of the day.